Thank you for the question, “What does the Bible say about “what goes around comes back around”? Is this different from karma?”
There are many cultures that have similar sayings about receiving what you “dish out” to others.
The Scripture states that what a person sow is what that person will reap. The Second Commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.
If one is kind and gracious to others in need, then one will find others will be kind and gracious when one is need. If one is harsh and mean to others, one can’t others to kind and gracious in his/her time of need.
However, Jesus doesn’t advocate revenge or retaliation, but love your enemy even though they don’t deserve it. Jesus says this in the Sermon of the Mount,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (NIV).
If I understand the term, karma, correctly it means actions. The actions of a person will have an accumulated effect or response from others. That’s just another way of saying that person receives his/her “just dessert” for the past actions.
SUMMARY: Jesus teaches to forgive and not to “dish out” justice to that person who doesn’t deserve one’s kindness. It’s one step above karma.
-Kingston